The PEERS Act of 2023 would expand Medicare coverage to include peer support services starting January 1, 2025. These services provide emotional, informational, and practical support to Medicare beneficiaries recovering from mental health or substance use disorders, delivered by certified peer support specialists who have lived experience with these conditions. The services would be available through federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, community mental health centers, and certified community behavioral health clinics. Medicare would cover 80 percent of the cost for these services under a fee schedule to be established by the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill specifies that peer support specialists must meet certification standards based on national practice guidelines and federal competency requirements for peer workers in behavioral health settings.
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